Three lives, one tragedy, and the weight of 21 grams that changed everything.
Watch the original version of 21 Grams
Prologue:
21 grams. That’s the amount of weight our bodies purportedly lose at the moment of death. It’s a tiny amount, barely the weight of a stack of five nickels. But it’s enough to make you wonder what kind of secrets it might hold.
Paul Rivers, an ailing mathematician, lovelessly married to an English émigré; Christina Peck, an upper-middle-class suburban housewife and mother of two girls; and Jack Jordan, a born-again ex-con, are brought together by a terrible accident that changes their lives forever. Each struggling to come to terms with their own personal demons, they begin to realize that their destinies are inextricably linked.
As they grapple with the aftermath of the accident, they are forced to confront their past mistakes and the deep-seated issues that have brought them to this point. In a world where nothing is as it seems, they must learn to navigate the complexities of their own lives while untangling the web of secrets that binds them together.
Chapter 1: The Accident
It was a dark and stormy night. The kind of night where you’d expect something terrible to happen. And that’s exactly what did happen.
Paul Rivers was driving home from work, lost in thought as he tried to solve a particularly difficult math problem. He had always been a brilliant mathematician, but lately, his mind had been consumed by his failing health and his loveless marriage to his English wife, Mary.
Christina Peck was driving home from her daughter’s ballet recital, her mind consumed with anxiety about her failing marriage to her husband, Michael. The tension between them had been building for months, and she was struggling to keep her family together.
Jack Jordan was driving home from a church meeting, his mind focused on his newfound faith and his job at a local supermarket. He had spent most of his life in and out of prison, but he was trying to make a fresh start.
And then it happened. The accident that would change everything.
Paul’s car spun out of control on the wet road, colliding with Christina’s car and sending it careening into Jack’s vehicle. In an instant, their lives were forever entwined.
As the dust settled and the emergency services arrived, they each found themselves struggling to come to terms with what had just happened. Paul was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, Christina was left shaken and traumatized, and Jack was left to confront his own past mistakes as he tried to help the others in any way he could.
As the shock of the accident began to wear off, they realized that they were all connected in ways they never could have imagined. They had all made mistakes, and their lives had been shaped by a web of secrets and lies that threatened to tear them apart.
But as they grappled with the fallout of the accident, they began to see glimmers of hope in the darkness. They realized that they were not alone, and that together, they might just be able to navigate the complexities of their lives and find a way forward.
As they looked up at the night sky, they couldn’t help but wonder if the 21 grams that had left their bodies at the moment of impact held the secrets to their fate. Little did they know, their journey was just beginning.
Chapter 2: Past Lives
Paul Rivers lay in his hospital bed, recovering from the accident that had brought him together with Christina Peck and Jack Jordan. As he looked out the window, he thought about his life and how he had ended up here. He had always been a brilliant mathematician, but his career had never taken off the way he had hoped. He had fallen in love with a beautiful English woman named Mary, and they had married, but their relationship had grown loveless over time.
Christina Peck sat in her suburban home, staring blankly at the walls. She had always dreamed of a perfect life, but reality had proved much harsher. Her husband was distant and unfaithful, and her two daughters were growing up too fast. She had tried so hard to hold her family together, but the accident had shattered everything. She wondered how she would ever pick up the pieces.
Jack Jordan sat alone in his tiny apartment, surrounded by the relics of his past. He had been a criminal for most of his life, but he had found God in prison and had turned his life around. He had been trying so hard to make a fresh start, but the accident had brought his past back to haunt him. He wondered if he could ever truly leave his old life behind.
As they each struggled with their own demons, they began to realize that their lives were connected in ways they had never imagined. They had all made mistakes, and their actions had led them to this moment. But they had also each held onto a glimmer of hope, a belief that things could still get better.
Paul thought about the moments in his life that had led him here. He remembered the day when he had fallen in love with Mary, and the hope he had felt for their future together. He wondered where it had all gone wrong. He had always been so focused on his work, his brilliant mind driving him forward, that he had neglected the people around him. He had always believed that his work would bring him happiness, but now he realized that he had been wrong.
Christina thought about her past, about the choices she had made and the consequences they had wrought. She had always wanted to have it all, the perfect family and the perfect life, but it had never been enough. She had been a good wife and mother, but had always felt unfulfilled. She had turned to alcohol to cope, hoping to numb the pain. But now, she knew that she had to face her past head-on if she was going to move forward.
Jack thought about his past life and the crimes he had committed. He had been a different person then, consumed by anger and bitterness. But in prison, he had found God, and had begun to see the world in a new light. He had been released from prison, hoping to turn his life around, but the accident had brought his old life rushing back. He wondered if he could ever truly atone for his past sins.
As the three protagonists grappled with their pasts, they began to realize that they needed each other. They were all struggling alone, but together they might be able to find some measure of peace. They had been brought together by a terrible accident, but perhaps they could find a new beginning in the aftermath.
Chapter 3: The Investigation
The sun was setting over the city as the police arrived on the scene of the accident. Christina, Jack, and Paul were all taken to the hospital to receive medical attention, but their pain would not end there.
As the investigation into the accident began, each of the protagonists were questioned by the police about what had happened that night. They all knew that the truth could destroy their lives, but they also knew that lying to the authorities could only make things worse.
Paul, still recovering from his injuries, recounted the events leading up to the accident. He had been driving home from work when he swerved to avoid hitting an animal that had run into the road. He lost control of his car and crashed into Christina’s car. Jack, driving behind them, had no time to react and crashed into them both.
Christina was inconsolable. She could barely speak, let alone answer the police’s questions. Her mind was consumed by guilt and the memories of her past mistakes. She knew that her reckless driving was partly to blame for the accident, but she couldn’t bear to admit it.
Jack was the most guarded of the three. He had a criminal record and didn’t want the police to find out about his past. He was also wrestling with his own guilt, as he had been drinking just before the accident. He knew that his actions had contributed to the tragedy, but he couldn’t bring himself to admit it to the police.
As the investigation continued, the police began to piece together the events of that fateful night. They discovered that Paul had been struggling with a terminal illness and was consumed by thoughts of death. Christina, meanwhile, was grappling with her own demons as she tried to keep her family together.
But it was Jack’s past that proved to be the biggest surprise. The police discovered that he had been released from prison just months before the accident. He had been serving time for armed robbery and had turned to religion in a bid to turn his life around. But now, his past was threatening to catch up with him.
As the investigation intensified, tensions rose between the three protagonists. They each knew that the others were hiding something, but they were too scared to reveal the truth. They tried to maintain a facade of normalcy, but the weight of their secrets was slowly crushing them.
As the days turned into weeks, the investigation continued to drag on. The three protagonists were consumed by fear and paranoia, convinced that they would all be punished for their actions. They began to turn on each other, blaming one another for the tragedy that had befallen them.
But it was a twist of fate that finally brought their secrets to light. While searching Paul’s car, the police found a small bag of cocaine. It was a shocking discovery, and one that would change everything.
Paul had been hiding his addiction from his family and friends for years. He had turned to drugs as a way of coping with his illness, but now his secret was out in the open. Christina and Jack were horrified by the revelation, but they also saw it as an opportunity to shift the blame away from themselves.
They began to point fingers at Paul, accusing him of causing the accident with his reckless behavior. They knew that his addiction would discredit him in the eyes of the police, and that they could use it to their advantage.
But as the investigation drew to a close, the truth finally emerged. The accident had been caused by a combination of factors, each of the three protagonists playing a significant role in the tragedy. They had all made mistakes, and they would all be punished for them.
The investigation may have been over, but the scars of that night would never fully heal. The three protagonists would spend the rest of their lives haunted by the memories of what had happened. They had been brought together by a terrible accident, but their lives would never be the same again.
Chapter 4: Betrayal
Christina sat alone in the dark, her mind consumed by thoughts of her husband’s infidelity. She couldn’t believe that after years of marriage and two beautiful daughters, Paul had been unfaithful to her.
Her heart was shattered into a million pieces, and she didn’t know where to turn. The only person she could think of was Jack. She knew it was wrong, but she needed someone to talk to, someone who would understand.
As she sat in the dimly lit room, she thought about the night of the accident. She had been driving home from a friend’s house when she saw the car in front of her swerve erratically. She had tried to swerve to avoid it, but it was too late. The impact was devastating, and her life would never be the same again.
She had been drawn to Jack from the moment she met him at the hospital. There was something about him that was different, something that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. It wasn’t just his rugged good looks or his charming smile. There was a depth to him, a darkness that she found intriguing.
As the days went by, their friendship blossomed. They spent long hours talking about their lives, their hopes, and their dreams. Jack was a good listener, and he always seemed to know just what to say to make her feel better.
But as their relationship deepened, cracks began to appear in the bond between the three protagonists. Paul sensed that something was wrong, and he became increasingly suspicious of Christina’s behavior. He started following her, trying to catch her in the act.
As the tension mounted, Jack and Christina couldn’t help but feel drawn to each other. They knew that what they were doing was wrong, but they couldn’t help themselves. Their attraction was too strong, too powerful to ignore.
One night, as they sat alone in Jack’s apartment, the tension became unbearable. They kissed passionately, their desire for each other boiling over. They knew they had crossed a line, but they couldn’t turn back.
But when Paul discovered the truth, he was devastated. He had always loved Christina, despite their problems. He couldn’t understand why she would turn to someone like Jack, a convicted criminal with a dark past.
In his anger and despair, Paul lashed out at Jack, blaming him for ruining their lives. But Jack refused to take the blame. He knew that he had made mistakes in his past, but he couldn’t help the way he felt about Christina.
As the tension between the three protagonists reached a boiling point, a darker force was lurking in the shadows. Someone was watching them, manipulating them, pulling the strings of their lives. And as they would soon discover, they were just pawns in a much larger game.
The betrayal had set them on a dangerous path, one that would lead them down a road of violence and revenge. They would need each other more than ever to survive the storm that was coming.
But as the secrets and lies continued to pile up, they would soon realize that even their strongest bonds could be shattered by the truth. And when the truth was finally revealed, it would leave them questioning everything they thought they knew about each other.
Chapter 5: Desperation
Paul lay in his hospital bed, staring up at the white ceiling. He knew he was running out of time. The cancer was spreading faster than he had anticipated, and he could feel his body weakening with every passing day. But even as he struggled to come to terms with his own mortality, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something he had to do before he died.
Christina sat by his bedside, her hands clasped tightly together. She was consumed by guilt over the accident and the role she had played in bringing the three of them together. She had always considered herself a good person, but now she couldn’t escape the nagging feeling that she was responsible for the tragedy that had befallen them.
Jack sat in the corner of the hospital room, his eyes fixed on the floor. He was lost in his thoughts, struggling to come to terms with the enormity of what had happened. He had turned his life around after serving time in prison, but now it seemed that all of his efforts had been in vain.
As they sat in silence, a sense of desperation began to creep over them. They knew that they had to do something to change their fate, but they had no idea where to start.
“We can’t just sit here and wait for the end,” Paul said, breaking the silence. “We have to do something.”
Christina and Jack looked at each other, both wondering the same thing – what could they possibly do to change the course of their lives?
“We could leave town,” Jack suggested hesitantly. “Start over somewhere else. Maybe if we got away from here, we could put this all behind us.”
“And go where?” Christina asked, her voice tinged with skepticism. “We can’t just pick up and leave our lives behind.”
“Maybe we don’t have a choice,” Paul said, his voice weak but resolute. “We’re all in this together now. We have to come up with a plan.”
They spent the next few days brainstorming, trying to think of a way out of their predicament. They considered all sorts of options – running away, turning themselves in, or even taking drastic measures to ensure their own safety. But no matter what they came up with, they knew that it would come at a great cost.
In the end, they made a pact. They agreed to do whatever it took to protect themselves and each other, no matter the consequences. They would lie, cheat, and even kill, if necessary, to ensure their own survival.
It was a dangerous plan, but they had no other choice. As they left the hospital together, they felt a sense of desperation and determination that they had never experienced before.
They spent the next few weeks on edge, constantly looking over their shoulders and jumping at every sound. But as time passed, they began to relax. They fell into a rhythm, living their lives as before, but with a sense of purpose that they had never had before.
As the investigation into the accident continued, they watched from afar, waiting for the other shoe to drop. But it never did. They had gotten away with it.
For a while, it seemed as though their plan had worked. They had managed to avoid the consequences of their actions and were free to live their lives as they pleased. But as they began to let their guard down, their past came back to haunt them.
It started with a phone call. A voice on the other end of the line, threatening them with exposure if they didn’t pay up. At first, they ignored it, thinking it was just a prank. But then the threats became more frequent, more urgent.
They tried to ignore it, but it was impossible. They were constantly looking over their shoulders, never knowing when the next threat would come. It was a life of constant fear and anxiety.
As time passed, they began to unravel. Each of them struggled with their own demons, consumed by guilt and regret. Paul’s illness worsened, Christina became increasingly isolated, and Jack began to question whether their plan had been worth it.
In the end, it was too much for them to handle. They had thought they were strong enough to deal with the consequences of their actions, but they were wrong. The pressure became too much, and they cracked.
It all came to a head one night, when they were confronted by the very person who had been threatening them all along. And in that moment, everything they had tried to keep hidden came crashing down around them.
They were left to pick up the pieces, trying to make sense of what had happened and where they had gone wrong. And as they looked back, they realized that the only thing they had truly gained from their pact was a lifetime of regret and shame.
The 21 grams that had brought them together had also been the weight that had dragged them down. And in the end, they were left to wonder whether they had truly changed their fate, or simply sealed their own doom.
Chapter 6: Redemption
Paul sat alone in his hospital room, staring at the equations on his whiteboard. He had always found solace in numbers, in the way they could be manipulated and ordered to make sense of the chaos of the universe. But now, as he faced his own mortality, even the comfort of his work was slipping away.
Christina sat by her daughter’s bedside, watching as the machines beeped and whirred. Her guilt hung heavy around her neck, a constant reminder of the choices she had made that led them here. She had sought forgiveness from God, from her family, but she had yet to find it within herself.
Jack sat in his cell, his Bible open in his lap. He had turned to God in the darkest moments of his life, seeking redemption for the sins of his past. But now, as the walls closed in on him, he wondered if even God could save him from the consequences of his actions.
As they each grappled with their own demons, they began to see glimmers of hope in their darkest moments. Paul’s work had caught the attention of a prominent mathematician, who offered to fund his research and help him finish his life’s work. Christina’s daughter began to show signs of improvement, and she found comfort in volunteering at the hospital. And Jack, his faith tested to the limit, found a new calling in ministering to his fellow inmates.
But just as it seemed they might finally find redemption, tragedy struck once again. Paul’s health took a turn for the worse, and he was forced to confront the reality of his own mortality. Christina’s past caught up with her, as the police uncovered evidence of her involvement in the accident. And Jack, faced with the prospect of a life behind bars, began to question everything he had ever believed.
In the end, they were each left to find their own way forward. Paul continued his work, pouring his heart and soul into his research as he faced down the specter of death. Christina fought to clear her name, to make amends for the mistakes of her past. And Jack, his faith restored, found a newfound purpose in helping others.
But even as they made strides towards redemption, the scars of their past would linger on forever. The 21 grams that had left their bodies that fateful night would forever hold the secrets to their fate, a constant reminder of the decisions that led them down this path. But as they looked towards the future, they each held onto the hope that they could find salvation, in this life or the next.
Chapter 7: The Aftermath
The sun had set on the town where the accident had occurred, casting a deep orange glow over the barren streets. The hospital room where Paul had taken his last breaths was empty, except for the sound of a heart monitor beeping in the background. Christina sat alone in the room, tears streaming down her face as she clutched a photo of her two daughters.
As she sat there, lost in her grief, she heard a faint knock at the door. She wiped the tears from her face and composed herself before answering. It was Jack, standing there with his head bowed and his hands clasped in front of him.
“Can I come in?” he asked quietly.
Christina nodded, and Jack took a seat beside her. They sat in silence for a few moments, both lost in their own thoughts.
“I’m sorry,” Jack finally said, breaking the silence. “I never meant for any of this to happen.”
Christina turned to him, her eyes red and swollen from crying. “None of us did,” she said. “But it did happen, and now we have to live with the consequences.”
They sat in silence again, each lost in their own thoughts. Christina couldn’t help but wonder what would happen next. Her life had been turned upside down in the blink of an eye, and she didn’t know how to move forward.
“I need to tell you something,” Jack said suddenly, breaking the silence once more. “Something I’ve been keeping from you.”
Christina looked at him, her curiosity piqued. “What is it?”
“I was involved in the accident,” Jack said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I caused it.”
Christina’s eyes widened in shock. “What do you mean? How?”
Jack took a deep breath, then began to recount the events of that fateful night. He told her how he had been drinking and driving, how he had swerved into Paul’s car and caused the accident. He told her how he had fled the scene, consumed by guilt and fear.
Christina sat there in disbelief as Jack’s story unfolded. She couldn’t believe that the man she had come to trust and lean on in her darkest moments was responsible for the tragedy that had brought them together.
“I’m so sorry,” Jack said, his voice breaking. “I know that doesn’t make it right, but I needed to tell you the truth.”
Christina sat there for a moment, trying to process everything she had just heard. Finally, she spoke. “Why did you tell me this now?”
“Because I can’t keep living with the guilt,” Jack said. “I need to take responsibility for my actions.”
Christina nodded, then stood up. “I need some time to think,” she said, then walked out of the room.
As she walked down the hallway, she felt a wave of emotions wash over her. Anger, sadness, confusion – they all collided inside her head. She didn’t know what to do next, but she knew that she had to find a way to move forward.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Christina tried her best to keep living her life, to be there for her daughters and to be a good wife to her husband. But the weight of the accident and everything that had come after it hung heavy over her, like a dark cloud that refused to dissipate.
One day, out of the blue, she received a letter in the mail. It was from Jack, and it contained a check for a large sum of money. Along with the check was a letter, in which Jack apologized once again for his actions and expressed his desire to make amends.
Christina read the letter, then sat down at her kitchen table and cried. She cried for everything that had been lost, for the life that she had once had and could never get back. But she also cried for the glimmer of hope that Jack’s gesture had given her. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way to move forward from this tragedy.
As the years went by, Christina’s life slowly began to take shape again. She divorced her husband and moved to a new town, where she started a new life with her daughters. She never forgot about the accident, or the role that Jack had played in it. But over time, she learned to forgive him, and even to be grateful for the way that he had helped her heal.
One day, years after the accident, Christina was sitting in a park with her daughters when she saw a man walking towards them. As he got closer, she realized that it was Jack. He looked older now, his hair flecked with gray and his face lined with wrinkles.
“Christina,” he said, a smile spreading across his face.
“Jack,” she replied, standing up to greet him.
They hugged each other, and for a moment, everything else fell away. They were just two people who had been through something terrible, but who had found a way to survive.
“I’ve missed you,” Jack said, as they pulled away from each other.
Christina smiled, then took his hand. “Let’s take a walk,” she said.
And so they did, walking through the park together, talking about everything and nothing, just happy to be alive and together. As they walked, Christina thought about the 21 grams that had left their bodies the night of the accident. They may never know what they contained, or what they meant. But in that moment, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the present, the sunshine on their faces, and the hope for a better future.
Some scenes from the movie 21 Grams written by A.I.
Scene 1
Logline: Three strangers are brought together by a tragic accident, but as they uncover each other’s secrets, they realize their destinies are connected in more ways than they could have imagined.
Characters:
Paul Rivers – A brilliant but ailing mathematician who is trapped in a loveless marriage.
Christina Peck – An upper-middle-class suburban housewife and mother of two girls who tries to hold her family together despite her own demons.
Jack Jordan – A born-again ex-con who turns to religion to seek redemption for his past crimes.
Scene 1: The Accident
FADE IN:
EXT. A DARK, WINDING ROAD – NIGHT
The sound of a car engine racing fills the air. Suddenly, a car swerves off the road and crashes into a tree.
INT. THE CAR
PAUL RIVERS (40s), a disheveled man with dark circles under his eyes, is behind the wheel. He groans in pain as he tries to move.
In the passenger seat, CHRISTINA PECK (30s), an immaculately dressed woman, remains motionless.
Behind them, JACK JORDAN (40s), a rugged man with a grizzled beard, stirs awake.
PAN SHOTS of the wreckage and the streetlights illuminating the dark night.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT
Police cars and ambulances arrive on the scene of the accident.
The three protagonists are pulled out of the car – Paul on a stretcher, Christina with a neck brace, and Jack handcuffed.
Paul glances at Christina, and there is a flicker of recognition in their eyes. Jack watches them both with suspicion.
CUT TO BLACK.
FADE OUT.
Scene 2
FADE IN:
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY
Paul lies in a hospital bed, hooked up to various machines. Christina sits by his side, holding his hand.
CHRISTINA:
(whispering)
Paul, can you hear me?
PAUL:
(weakly)
Yeah, I can hear you.
CHRISTINA:
I’m so sorry this happened to you. I never thought something like this could happen.
PAUL:
It’s not your fault. No one could have predicted it.
Christina takes a deep breath.
CHRISTINA:
There’s something I need to tell you. It’s about me.
PAUL:
(surprised)
What about you?
CHRISTINA:
I haven’t always been the perfect wife and mother. There’s a lot of things I’ve done that I’m not proud of.
PAUL:
(understanding)
We’ve all made mistakes, Christina. What’s important is that we learn from them.
CHRISTINA:
(tears welling up)
I don’t know if I can ever forgive myself for what I’ve done.
PAUL:
(squeezing her hand)
Whatever it is, you can tell me. I’m here for you.
Christina takes a deep breath.
CHRISTINA:
I cheated on my husband.
Paul’s eyes widen in surprise.
PAUL:
(trying to stay calm)
When did this happen? Who was it with?
CHRISTINA:
(sobbing)
It was with someone I met at the gym. He was just a stranger, but I was so unhappy in my marriage. I thought he could make me feel alive again.
PAUL:
(sympathetically)
I’m sorry, Christina. That must have been really difficult for you.
CHRISTINA:
(nodding)
It was. And now my husband knows. He found out about the affair and everything has fallen apart.
PAUL:
(reaching out to comfort her)
I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?
CHRISTINA:
(shaking her head)
No, I don’t think so. I just needed someone to talk to. Thank you for listening.
PAUL:
(smiling weakly)
Of course, Christina. You can always count on me.
They sit in silence for a moment, lost in their own thoughts.
FADE OUT.
Scene 3
FADE IN:
EXT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR – DAY
Christina paces nervously in the hospital corridor, her eyes scanning the sea of doctors and nurses rushing past her. She takes shallow breaths, trying not to let the panic overtake her.
CHRISTINA
(to herself)
Calm down. You have to stay calm.
As she turns the corner, she spots Paul’s room and hurries over to it. She peeks inside, catching sight of Paul hooked up to various machines, his face etched with pain.
CHRISTINA (CONT’D)
(to Paul)
Hey. How are you feeling?
PAUL
(weakly)
Not great. What’s going on?
CHRISTINA
(sighing)
The police are here. They want to ask us some questions about the accident.
Paul’s eyes widen in alarm.
PAUL
What do they want to know?
Christina bites her lip, her eyes flitting nervously around the room.
CHRISTINA
(uncertainly)
Just the usual stuff, I guess. Where we were going, what we were doing. They’re just trying to piece together what happened.
PAUL
(voice trembling)
What if they find out what we did?
Christina places a reassuring hand on Paul’s arm.
CHRISTINA
(softly)
We’ll get through this. Together.
As they continue to talk, Jack suddenly bursts into the room, his eyes wild.
JACK
(to Christina)
We need to talk. Now.
Christina and Jack exchange tense glances as they step out into the corridor.
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL CAFETERIA – DAY
Christina and Jack sit across from each other at a secluded booth, their voices low and urgent.
JACK
(whispering)
We can’t tell the police anything. They’ll never understand what happened that night.
CHRISTINA
(voice shaking)
But we have to tell them something. They’re already suspicious.
JACK
(pleadingly)
Please. Just trust me on this. We can’t let them find out what we did.
Christina’s eyes flit nervously around the cafeteria, her thoughts racing.
CUT TO:
EXT. HOSPITAL – DAY
As Christina and Jack leave the hospital, they are met with a wall of reporters and flashing cameras. They shield their faces, pushing through the throngs of people as they make their way to Jack’s car.
CUT TO:
INT. JACK’S CAR – DAY
As Jack starts the car, the radio crackles to life. The news announcer’s voice fills the car.
NEWS ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
The police continue to investigate the fatal accident that occurred on Route 9 last week, which claimed the lives of three people. Sources close to the investigation say that there are suspicions of foul play.
Jack turns off the radio, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
JACK
(to Christina)
We have to be careful. We can’t afford to slip up now.
Christina nods silently, her thoughts consumed with fear and guilt.
FADE OUT.
Scene 4
FADE IN:
INT. CHRISTINA’S LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
Christina sits on the couch, staring into space. Jack enters and sits down next to her.
JACK
Hey, you okay?
Christina looks at him, tears welling up in her eyes.
CHRISTINA
I don’t know. Everything just feels so… messed up right now.
Jack puts an arm around her.
JACK
I know. But we’re gonna get through this. Together.
Christina leans into him and they kiss.
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM – LATER
Christina and Jack lay in bed, wrapped in each other’s arms. Christina looks distant.
JACK
Hey, what’s wrong?
CHRISTINA
I just can’t stop thinking about Paul. What we’re doing… it’s wrong. He doesn’t deserve this.
JACK
You think I don’t know that? But we can’t change what happened. All we can do is try to make the best of what we have.
CHRISTINA
What if he finds out?
JACK
He won’t.
Christina looks at him, uncertain.
JACK (CONT’D)
Trust me.
They kiss again, but this time the passion is gone. Christina pulls away.
CHRISTINA
I need some air.
She gets out of bed and exits the room.
CUT TO:
INT. KITCHEN – LATER
Christina stands at the sink, staring out the window. Jack enters.
JACK
You okay?
CHRISTINA
I don’t know. This is all just… so messed up.
JACK
I know. But we can’t change what happened. We can only move forward.
Christina turns to face him.
CHRISTINA
I just don’t want to hurt him anymore than he already has been.
JACK
I know. But what we have… it’s real. And we deserve to be happy.
Christina looks at him, unsure.
JACK (CONT’D)
I love you, Christina. Don’t forget that.
They kiss again, but this time Christina pulls away.
CHRISTINA
I love you too. But we need to be careful. We can’t let anyone find out about us.
JACK
Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to us.
Christina looks at him, still uncertain.
FADE OUT.
Scene 5
FADE IN:
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – NIGHT
PAUL, CHRISTINA, and JACK are gathered around Paul’s hospital bed. There’s a tense silence between them.
PAUL
We need to do something.
CHRISTINA
What do you mean?
PAUL
I mean we can’t just sit around and wait for the police to come after us. We need to take matters into our own hands.
JACK
What are you suggesting?
PAUL
We need to leave town. Start fresh somewhere else. With new identities, new lives.
CHRISTINA
I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.
PAUL
It’s either that or face the consequences of our actions. We can’t go to jail, not now. Not after everything we’ve been through.
JACK
He’s right. We can’t just wait around.
CHRISTINA
I have two kids. I can’t just uproot their lives like that.
PAUL
We’re not asking you to. We’ll figure it out. We’ll find a way to make it work.
There’s a moment of silence as they all consider their options.
PAUL (CONT’D)
We have to do this. We have no other choice.
CHRISTINA
Okay. I’m in.
JACK
Me too.
PAUL
Good. We’ll leave first thing in the morning. Meet me outside the hospital at 6am sharp.
The three of them nod in agreement.
PAUL (CONT’D)
And Christina, don’t worry. We’ll take care of everything.
FADE OUT.
